Why Congratulations? My bah humbug question

B

blue4130

Well-known
Local time
3:56 AM
Joined
May 25, 2008
Messages
235
View My Gallery
So first off, I am not a troll. I own a Leica and selection of lenses. I don't want to start a flame war. I just question this mentality.

Someone buys a leica, Posts about a question, everyone chimes in and says "congratulations" as if the person had a baby or got a promotion at work. All he did was spend money on a piece of expensive camera gear. Why is he congratulated? Some would even say he was foolish for spending money on a camera that is outdated or not "new". Should people not say "welcome to the club" or something along those lines?

For the record, since getting my Leica, I have since put down my digital except for work related shoots (newspaper stuff).

it all reminds me of a South Park episode where one character bought a hybrid car and became smug, episode was aptly called "Smug Alert"

Vance
www.photogeek.ca
 
Actually, forum members are congratulating themselves when a new person is sucked into the RFF world. That means they have a new chump to dump their old RF gear on in the classifieds. You need new blood. I mean, eventually you run out of existing members to sell that old Jupiter 8 to. Once everyone has owned it, at least once, it becomes somewhat incestuous for it to make the rounds again. So when someone new shows up with a new M2, members rejoice that fresh meat has entered the forum. :angel:
 
Yes indeed ... congratulations on joining a select society. A unique group of dedicated enthusiasts who understand mechanical precision when they see it and appreciate the sense of importance and history that can cause a mere mechanical device to transend into the mystical!

Welcome friend ... you truly have become one of us! :angel:
 
Ugggh. Don't congratulate me on the camera. It's been in my possession for a while now. Also, I have many other fine mechanical cameras (albeit in Canada, a little too far away to use at the moment) and a suitcase full of digital gear with me that take just as good photos.

"enthusiasts who understand mechanical precision when they see it"

I don't understand it. That is the point. My old SRT is built just as bulletproof and has some fantastic glass, but I didn't get gushing congrats when I picked that up years ago.

So far Fred's reply makes the most sense. By the way, anyone want to buy an I-61 😉

If you want to congratulate on something, do it about the photos the person takes with whatever camera they happen to be using at the time, not the tool that they use to make the photos. Or like I said, welcome them to the bottomless money pit that is shooting film with old cameras.
 
Why am I suddenly in the shadow?

Oh, it's your high horse standing right here 🙂
 
'everyone chimes in and says "congratulations" as if the person had a baby or got a promotion at work.'

Well, I had to get a promotion at work before I could afford one . . .
 
Uh, blue4130, this is a gear forum.

If someone goes through the bother of posting about new gear, they are usually happy/excited about it. People in general have this thing called empathy, and recognize the poster is happy about their gear, and hence the congratulations. I think it's a normal 'mentality' in a place where people about stuff.

If you are looking for something deeper or a different focus (than gear), this may not be your brand of wodka.
 
Vance, get it through your head that according to about any economic theory Leicas are NOT expensive. They hold their value extremely well, some models actually increasing in value relative to overall inflation. They last about forever with next to no maintanance. My kit was all bought used, most of it decades ago. The bodies range in age from over 50 to just under 40 years old. Most of the "repair" expense over the years consisted of getting the old M3 style flash synch sockets replaced with "modern" M4 style ones.

OK, as a pro I could write them off on my taxes, and many pros get a nice fat deduction every year that way, but I haven't been able to do that in over 30 years. They've been "written off" that long. They've paid for a bunch of automobiles (which didn't hold up as well) and l owe nothing on my truck or boat, my house is mine free and clear, wife #1 went through medical school, I helped wife #2 get set up in the antique business, my daughter is now an attorney, my son is a rabbi and working on his doctorate at Harvard ~ I could go on, and I'm always saying that yes, I'm "going digital" as soon as my current kit wears out.

I do remember though how excited I was when I bought each body and lens. I have great long term memory. I still use the cameras that gave me those memories. From an economic standpoint they were free. You just have to get rid of your GAS soon enough.
 
Last edited:
MikeL said:
Uh, blue4130, this is a gear forum.

If someone goes through the bother of posting about new gear, they are usually happy/excited about it. People in general have this thing called empathy, and recognize the poster is happy about their gear, and hence the congratulations. I think it's a normal 'mentality' in a place where people about stuff.

If you are looking for something deeper or a different focus (than gear), this may not be your brand of wodka.
Click to expand...


Whaaaat? Gear forum? I'm taking my pretty pictures and going home then 😉.

Way back in the day, when this forum was young, we coexisted (those that fondled and those that used/abused there gear), when did that end?

Todd
 
I suppose congratulations are given in multiple situations where someone has not done anything extraordinary. As others have said, the Leica aquisition represents a benchmark to many who thought they were not rich enough, good enough or foolish enough to ever actually own a Leica. The images that are thus inspired (misdirected as that may be) might actually be worth congratulating. We share the new owners enthusiasm.

If you read the literature accompanying almost any new car, electric razor, sewing machine, blender, cell phone or every other camera brand, you will generally find the opening paragraph reads, "Congratulations for selecting our product."

They may be a little biased, too!
 
Hey, am getting congratulations every birthday anniversary, and it's not something that took me much of effort..
 
Todd.Hanz said:
Way back in the day, when this forum was young, we coexisted (those that fondled and those that used/abused there gear), when did that end?

Todd
Click to expand...

When the M8 came out? 🙂 More traffic, more posts with disdain/contempt for 'those people, versus me'.

Speaking of your pretty photos, I was wondering what camera/lens you used for the shot of the......😉
 
You forgot to mention what model Leica you have ... how are we supposed to know what type of actual congratulation to offer if we don't know the model.

For example ...

Black paint MP ... slightly envious congratulation.

M8 ... sympathetic congratulation.

IIIC ... puzzled congratulation.

M3 ... complete affirming congratulation ... etc etc!

😛 😛
 
Last edited:
blue4130 said:
Ugggh.

"enthusiasts who understand mechanical precision when they see it"

I don't understand it. That is the point. My old SRT is built just as bulletproof and has some fantastic glass, but I didn't get gushing congrats when I picked that up years ago.
Click to expand...

Well, it's like the guy who buys a Swiss made watch; a Timex is a good dependable watch ... and the Seiko is probably the equal of the more expensive Swiss watch. But he spent big bucks, even if he got it on the Home Shopping Network, just to own the watch of his dreams.

If you DO want a Swiss watch and it pleases you, that should be fine with anybody. And if someone also had purchased such a watch, they would probably congratulate anyone doing the same, thinking the congrats are due to the buyer's sudden epiphany that THAT watch is the best.

Besides, just on the basis of a Leica's cost, I'd say congrats are due. For that reason alone. 😀

Aside from my time spent on this thread, the congratulation effect never ever entered my mind.
 
MikeL said:
When the M8 came out? 🙂 More traffic, more posts with disdain/contempt for 'those people, versus me'.

Speaking of your pretty photos, I was wondering what camera/lens you used for the shot of the......😉
Click to expand...


M8...(snicker, snicker)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom